Vdcdc - 1715 Words

Can You See The White Elephant? Have you ever been forced to make a life altering decision? A decision where you much choose one option or the other? The short story Hills Like White Elephants depict a situation in which many, if not all readers can relate to at one point in their lives. The author Ernest Hemingway describes this scenario with a young couple who are at a crossroads in their life, and they are unsure of the future. The young couple are forced, but shying away from the rather large â€Å"white elephant in the room†, deciding to go through with having a child or an abortion. The theme in Hills Like White Elephants is expressed using typical thematic literary elements. Hemingway uses elements such as character, setting, conflict,†¦show more content†¦When she replies, â€Å"no you would not have†, he gets defensive and quickly puts her in her place. She humbly accepted his reply and turned her focus elsewhere. In other words Jig attempted to change the subject which is common between the young couple throughout the story. A current made entirely of bamboo beads, hung in the doorway of the train station’s bar. It had writing on it that the girl could not read. This tells the reader that the girl like the American is not a native of Spain. In other words this just reinforces Jigs dependency on the American as well as the Americans selfishness. Jig asked the American what was said. The American then told her it was the name of the drink called Anis del Toro. Her dependence on the man becomes evident when she then asks if they could try one. When the drink arrives with a glass of water she took a drink and commented that it tastes bitter. The American agreed and added that everything in life is somewhat bitter. His comment forced Jig to again to think of why they were at the train station. She then expresses her feelings that even the things you have waited for a long time turns out to be bitter. This statement tells the reader that she had waited a long time to become pregnant and she bitterly hated that she was going to have to give it up. Jig was concerned that the relationship she had the American would end if she did not go through with the abortion. She knew that he had not been happy since